The choice of plane becomes no less important process than directly using the tool. Planer - indispensable tool any carpenter, regardless of whether he is an amateur or a professional. It can be used to process any wood surface. At the moment, there are two main types: manual, which is a traditional tool, and electric tools, which are gradually displacing its predecessor from use. That is, the second type is better. Below are the characteristics of planes and how to choose one.

What does a hand plane consist of?

This type of planes usually consists of the following elements:

• a housing on which other components are attached;
• the slot from which the chips are ejected and in which the knife is fixed;
• knife or cutter - a sharpened steel plate that directly cuts the material;
• a wedge or clamp with which the knife is pressed to the body;
• chip removal thickness regulator;
• two handles (front and back);
• chip breaker, which breaks off and rolls chips;
• cutting width regulator;
• frog - metal plate, which adjusts the angle of the knife.

How to choose a hand plane?

Small planes are used for correcting mistakes and more fine work.

When choosing a hand plane, you need to know its functional features:

• the material is directly processed with a cutter installed in a special hole;
• the degree of sharpening of the cutter corresponds to the quality of wood processing;
• The correct choice of knife angle reduces the likelihood of creases during operation.

When choosing a plane, it is best to pay attention to the following characteristics:

• how well the cutter is sharpened;
• the gap - the wider it is, the better quality processing;
• the angle of inclination and cutter, which is inherent in each type of work.

Depending on the goals that need to be achieved, the following planes are distinguished:

1. Planers: plan damaged or uneven surfaces.
2. Small planes: for doing finer work and correcting mistakes.
3. Planers: for surfaces with large parameters.
4. Sherhebel: for initial wood processing.

Electric planer

However, it should be remembered that an electric planer has a significant advantage over a manual one: high performance in conditions of a larger volume of work, a small amount of effort expended, a more perfect result, etc. An electric plane consists of the following elements:

• the body where the main parts of the instrument are located;
• handle (one or two) for guiding the tool;
• start button and lock button (prevents accidental starting of the tool);
• processing thickness regulator;
• chip ejection pipe;
• parallel stop;
• sole, which consists of a rough part that is in contact with the surface during processing, and a smooth back part;
• a drum where tungsten or steel knives are installed;
• knives;
• an electric motor driving a drum with knives;
• belt transmission from the motor to the knives.

Electric planers typically range in power from 600 to 900 W, and in speed - above 10,000 rpm. Moreover, the higher the power and speed, the better the quality of processing. Household planes are characterized by lower power and speed. Professional planes, accordingly, have above average speed and power.

It should be remembered that amateur planes periodically need rest due to overheating, professional planes work much longer.

How to choose an electric plane?

It is necessary to decide on the tasks at hand before choosing an electric planer. When choosing an electric planer, you should be guided by technical and functional indicators.

Technical indicators when choosing a plane. The width of the knife and its quality - a wide cutter requires fewer passes to process the surface. This ensures not only the quality of processing, but also reduces the amount of time it takes to complete it.

Amount of power. This indicator indicates the performance of the electric planer and the quality of the work performed. Accordingly, the higher the power, the better these indicators.

Number of revolutions. As with the previous point, a high number of revolutions ensures smoother and better processing. Fixed mounting function. Makes it possible to use the plane as a planer and direct the board towards it.

Stated operating time. Based on functional purpose models (household or professional use) the possible permissible period of work varies. So, professional electric planers have no restrictions, but amateur ones do. For example, 20 min. work, and then a 10 minute break.

Availability of accessories for sampling quarters. These are additions to the equipment in specific models of planes that allow you to customize the parameters of the depth and width of the cut. Thanks to these functions, it is possible to tightly join the boards together.

Choosing a plane based on functional indicators involves paying attention to the following.

Sole. It consists of two parts. The back part, which is in contact with the already treated surface, must be very smooth so as not to scratch the wood. The front may be rougher as it is in contact with untreated wood. During work, between the surface and the sole there is air gap, which negatively affects the accuracy of the work and the thickness of the cut. This problem is eliminated by placing parallel or V-shaped grooves on the sole, which ensure chamfering. It is better to give preference to planes with adjustable sole heights.

Handles. Planes can be either with only one rear handle or with two - front and back. Considering the bulkiness of the tool, planes with two handles are more reliable. The front handle ensures the direction of the plane in the desired direction, the rear handle ensures the use of the required physical force.

Chip thickness regulator. As a rule, the adjuster step is 0.1 mm. Most models of electric planers have a regulator scale from 0 to 3 mm, but some remove chips even at 0. Therefore, it is better to choose planes with a scale from 0 to 3 mm, and, if possible, with a minus value.

Knives. The planer drum contains two removable tungsten carbide knives. Sometimes the manufacturer installs steel knives. They are more durable, they can be removed, sharpened and further used. Steel knives are heavier in their fit to the plane drum. Some planes have only one spiral blade, which provides faster and better chip removal. Replacing such a knife is not difficult.

Safety elements. These include the lock button, which is located next to the power button. Without pressing the first button, the second one will not work. This prevents the tool from being launched inadvertently. It is also important to have protective elements for the knives: plates on the sides of the plane that cover the edges of the drum, as well as a stop that protects the fingers and the surface from contact with the knives.

Ejection of chips. A huge number of shavings are produced when working with a plane, which also fly towards the carpenter. Planers in which the direction of ejection of chips is regulated have advantages. The ability to attach a garbage bag is important, but it should not be bulky. This issue can be solved by attaching a plane to a vacuum cleaner.

The presence of a fastening that ensures the use of the plane as a carpentry machine. This increases the versatility of this tool. Side stops, depth gauges. Their presence allows the carpenter to comfortably adjust the width and depth of the chip cut.

Ease of use. Comfortable handles with well-positioned buttons provide more comfortable work, prevent premature fatigue in the worker.

It is not enough to choose a plane that suits your tasks; it is important not to forget about purchasing a high-quality power cord of the required length.

A wooden hand plane is one of the main tools of a carpenter. Its form and the principle of working with it, despite all the technical improvements, have not actually changed over many years.

The main thing for a plane and its operation is the accuracy of setting the knife and the correct movement of the plane over the surface being processed. Such work will be indicated by chips coming out freely from the gap in the block. And then the whole planing process will give you pleasure, and not turn into torture.

Having looked at many photos of a hand plane on the Internet, you can see that it consists of the following elements: a taphole, a cutter, a wedge, a cutting depth regulator, a horn, a chipbreaker, a stop and a frog.

Preparing the plane for work

The knife is clamped in a workbench vice and the chip breaker is positioned, and then tightened with a screw to fix it in this position. And after wedging, the chipbreaker is fixed due to its self-resilience. Next, install the knife into the tool’s tap hole and tighten the wedge into the guides by hand.

To determine whether the knife is positioned correctly, turn the plane over and compare the parallelism of the surfaces of the blade and the sole. If you notice that it is necessary to adjust the knife, then release the wedge and set the knife in the desired position and then fix it again.

When planing with a knife, the thickness of the removed chips should be uniform. To ensure this, it is necessary to adjust the plane with a chipbreaker. The function of the chipbreaker can be understood from its name, and it should fit closely to the blade and be located 1-2 mm above it.

Next, the knife with the chipbreaker attached to it earlier is installed in the block in the tap hole and wedged a little. Then, using a hammer, carefully tap the knife to install it so that its tip is parallel to the sole with a small protrusion. Only then the knife is fixed with a wedge using a cam or screw mechanism.

For proper operation With a plane, it is necessary for the master to be on the side of the workpiece. This will allow him to correctly and without special effort make translational movements with a plane along the workpiece.

In order to avoid tipping over when planing, it is necessary to press down on its front handle at the beginning of the movement, and towards the end - on the back.

Precision plane

In modern examples of metal planes with a block, the knife is most often secured with a screw. And the second screw of the plane adjusts, with an accuracy of 10 micrometers, the thickness of chip removal.

They are also equipped with a knife slope regulator, which makes it possible to adjust the installation of the knife blade with one movement of the lever.

Burning edges

The key to success when gouging edges is the uniform pressure on the tool over its entire plane. When planing, it is also recommended to prevent the chips from breaking by moving the plane along the wood fibers.

If you come across a workpiece with an uneven or thin structure (such as the root part), we recommend using especially worn knives for a hand plane and continuously rotating the workpiece while planing.

It is easier to plane a narrow edge by applying several of these thin boards at a time. Thanks to this, the surface of the plane's support will increase, and it will be easier to control the correct position of the plane relative to the surface being processed. Indeed, in the case when the plane moves away from parallel with the surface being processed, the edge will turn out to be rounded.

• If you need to remove thicker chips, use a sherhebel.
• It is easier to plan the end of a piece of wood when the plane is positioned at an angle to its faces.
• By attaching wooden elements to the edges of the workpiece with a clamp, you will prevent chipping.
• Constantly check the surface of steel squares.
• Use a jointer to process long pieces. They can even plan against the grain.

Planing of faces

To get rid of roughness on a flat surface, sanding with a jointer is enough. A sander, a plane with a blade angle of up to 60, is intended for finishing wood.

To get rid of large irregularities, it is necessary to use Sherhebel. This tool is equipped with a narrow convex cutter with an oval-shaped blade. It can cut chips up to 3mm thick in one pass. After treatment with Sherhebel, the surface must be treated with a sander and a jointer for a fine finish.

End cleaning

To clean the ends, it is necessary to carry out the planing “from yourself”, with short pushes. Thanks to this processing principle, the wood fibers will be cut crosswise and less effort will be required.

To avoid chipping along the edges, it is necessary to chamfer them in advance. And also the best option There will be processing first from one end to the middle, and then from the other end to the middle.

The blade no longer deteriorates even during operation, but during its interaction with other objects, when not in use. During breaks, it is necessary to lay the plane not on the blade, but on its side. During long-term storage or during transportation, the knife must be pushed inside the block.

Plane selection

Taking into account all of the above, the type of plane you need depends on your goals:

• Sherhebel is designed for rough planing with the ability to remove thick chips;
• jointer - for finishing planing of long workpieces;
• sander - for particularly clean planing.

Photo of a hand plane

The Interskol company offers a choice of carpentry tools. Among them there is the most basic one - this is a plane. It is usually made from hardwood. In addition to it, there are a number of tools that a carpenter can use, for example:

• Joiner;
• Sherhebel and others.

Each type has its own specialized characteristics and purpose. Therefore, it is important to know which tool a carpenter should use at what point in the work. Although today machines do everything for people, there is still a jointer that is in no way inferior to its brothers. It occupies a worthy place in a carpenter's workshop.

The main parts of the models can be called a knife made of iron, a block, and a wedge. Planers are divided into a number of subspecies and types precisely due to their purpose, as well as additional devices.

Various modifications

Let's pay attention to the most different types carpentry tools:

• Mechanical or manual. It is sometimes made of plastic. But more often made of wood and metal. There are varieties made from combined materials. The quality of the body is directly related to what lies at the heart of the jointer. Its functionality also depends on the type of wood that needs to be sanded;
• Electric. Its functional mode is wider. Work gets done faster thanks to electric motor. High processing speed allows you to sand a large amount of wood.

The wooden jointer is most widely used at home, in the carpenter's workshop. Let us consider below how a plane differs from other similar devices for processing wooden surfaces.

What came first?

Sherhebel originally appeared. Such devices differ only in name from other similar instruments. But they add to their diversity. Sherhebels are used when planing wood that has not yet been processed. You could say this is a rough cut.

It looks massive, the weight is very heavy, since its body is made of metal. The main purpose is primary processing to obtain from wood the right size product, giving it shape. If, for example, this is a trough or a future solid boat, then Sherhebel is used, since it planes to a great depth.

You won't get a smooth surface, but there are other tools for this. It looks like a regular carpentry device. Only his knife is set at an angle of forty-five degrees, which is rounded at the bottom. This way you can remove up to three millimeters of chips at a time. Deep hollows should then be processed and leveled. The oval cutting edge allows you to work without longitudinal tearing. The hardness of the wood determines at what angle it is better to turn the iron to achieve a better finish. It's very easy to do. You just need to use a screwdriver to set the knife to the desired degree.

The difference between a sherhebel and another instrument is that it has one feature. It is designed for rough processing of wood. It has a semicircular blade sharpening, and it is also narrower than other carpentry tools. The iron protrudes from the block by two or three millimeters.

The jointer has two cutters. This is a hand tool that is designed for final and precise processing of wood. It levels the plane of large volumes in a short time. This is possible thanks to the long block and jointed edges.

The length of the device reaches dimensions two or three times larger than that of a conventional instrument. His knife has a chip breaker. There is a handle available, which makes work easier and more enjoyable. There can be either one or two knives.

The difference between a jointer and a planer is that the former has two blades, while the latter always has only one. They have the same body structure, although the first one is longer. Therefore, wood can be processed at a higher speed, spending a minimum of time over a large area.

Types of planes

Speaking about the types of planes and their purpose, let us pay attention to the classification of carpentry tools:

• It can be used for flat planing;
• And figured processing is possible.

First, let's look at the first type.

• Half jointer. It is represented by a shortened version of its brother, significantly inferior in size. The sole of the semi-jointer can reach sixty centimeters. The width of the incisor is up to eight centimeters. The device is intended for processing large areas of wood;
• Medvedka. This tool has large paired handles. Its width and length are also large. A special wedge is used to hold the knife. Work with the bear is carried out by two carpenters who hold it by the handle on each side. The device is used to process large areas of wood, for example, boards that are going to be used to sheathe the outside of a house. Or decorate the walls and ceiling with wood. At a time, the bear removes chips one millimeter thick;
• Sander. It is used when you need to clean wooden surface. With its help, defects that arise after processing wood with other devices are corrected. Easily cleans areas around knots and ends. If the wood has an uneven structure, then use a sander. It can handle any patterns. It has a double iron designed for scrapping shavings. It is presented in the form of a straight blade. The squat angle is sixty degrees;
• Zinubel. It is used if the surface needs to be given a slight roughness. It is also used to plan twisted wood. This treatment allows you to glue several surfaces more tightly, since the glue clings to the wood better, and the structure can last a very long time. Tsinubel knives have grooves, which give roughness to the wooden surface. They are placed at an angle of eighty degrees. Therefore, scoring does not appear even when processing twisted wood. Knives are usually single, with a serrated, straight blade. The length of the block reaches twenty centimeters. It is six and a half centimeters in width and the same in height;
• Tortsovy. Used for planing ends, as well as for small surfaces of wood that has an uneven structure;
• Single. Used for re-planing wood. The chips usually do not break, but small chips and nicks are possible on the surface;
• Double. Compared to a single one, it has two irons, one of which breaks the chips, which turns work into pleasure, improving the quality of processing.

Figure planing

The following planes can be used for figure planing:

• Zenzubel. It has two knives, so the quality of work remains high. Used to clear quarters or plan perpendicular surfaces. The width of the iron is approximately thirty-three millimeters with a blade-shaped shape. This is the closest relative of the falsebel;
• Federgubel. Its task is to process longitudinal protrusions located on the edges of the workpieces. The blade has a special shape that allows you to create rectangular protrusions along the edge of the product;
• Falsebel. It is used to clear quarters. Single knives, having both straight and oblique shapes. The tool has a stepped sole that can be removed. Not all models have this function. But where possible, it is easy to change the folds of the desired profile and size in order to better process the wood;
• Stabgobel, stabgaltel. Thanks to it, you can give a wooden product a rounded shape. This is possible due to the iron made in the shape of a concave blade;
• Tongue and pile pile. They form longitudinal grooves that are located on the edges of the workpieces. The rabbet has two blocks connected by special metal screws. One of them directs, and the other secures the work, holding the knives;
• Mold. Its main purpose is to figuratively process wood to give it a special shape. Used when creating cornices for houses, baguettes or doorways. Her incisors are special. Their edge is figured. The sole has many steps, which are selected depending on the shape of the future part and what exactly the master wants to achieve;
• Gruntubel. It is used to plan grooves across the wood fibers in the form of a trapezoidal section. Appearance represented by a block with a pointed hook inserted into it, used as a cutter;
• Gorbach. The name itself speaks for itself. Its block is curved, which helps to process surfaces that have a convex or concave shape. The diameter is completely unimportant. The humpback will process any curved surface.

Why are there so many varieties?

It is difficult for joiners and carpenters to get by with just one tool. Since the surface made of wood can be very different. You never know what shape it will have, and the customer may also require you to create a masterpiece made of wood, for example, with a convex surface.

There are devices that can only be used in pairs. We are talking about federgubel and tongue and groove. They can also be applied one after the other. First, the wood is rough processed using Sherhebel, then finished using a jointer.

Therefore, a master engaged in carpentry and carpentry cannot get by with just one tool. The quality of the source material, the result that the carpenter strives for - all this requires a variety of efforts from the carpenter. It is for this reason that he needs different devices.

First of all, I would like to say about the plane. It is what is traditionally used for wood processing. You can do a lot with it. But a home master does not always pick it up, believing that such a model is long outdated. Having considered the article about how many varieties of this type device, you can understand how such ornate wooden works of art come out of the carpenter’s hands.

The class of planing devices is very wide. And the above varieties of planes are an example of this. Main task they consist of processing planar-rectilinear surfaces, creating the required relief. The dimensions of the part can be reduced by cutting off the wood a little.

The standard model is from twenty to twenty-five centimeters in length. In addition to the wooden body, it may have a metal composition. It is possible to use, as we have seen, one or even two knives, performing various operations with wood.

The variety of types and modifications of models was made possible thanks to the centuries-old approach to the work of a wood craftsman. The most different instruments, allowing you to process any wooden surface. Now the work of the carpenter and joiner is greatly facilitated. Can be prepared in a short time wooden structure to use it in creating a stool, table, bed, wall and the like.

A planer is a device for planing wood. Most often this tool is hand-held. Using a plane, the surfaces are given the necessary roughness, flatness, and straightness. They reduce the dimensions of products or make long recesses in them. The job of a plane is to remove chips of a specific thickness during each pass over the surface of the workpiece.

The main components of the plane are:

• block
• wedge.

By size, purpose, equipment additional accessories There are many types of planes. However, there are only two modifications:

• manual (mechanical) - can be plastic, metal, wood or a combination. They are all in their own way functionality differ little, however technical indicators directly depend on the material used to make the case
• electric - due to additional equipment electric motor, such a tool can perform a large volume of work at high processing speed.

A hand plane made of wood is the most popular option for wood processing among home craftsmen.

Classification

Planing of wood can be flat or figured. The following types of planes are intended for flat planing:

• single planes. They are necessary for the procedure of leveling the wood surface. They have a straight blade with a slightly rounded edge. After working with such a tool, no burrs or irregularities remain, for this reason it is actively used for fine planing of wood after rough processing
• In addition to processing the ends, a cross-cut plane is used for finishing leveling of wood. In addition to the blade, this device also has a knife for breaking chips
• Sherhebel, unlike previous versions, has a rounded blade located at an angle of 45° to the sole. Due to the presence of an edge oval shape processing can be carried out wooden material across the fibers. In order to remove thick chips, the hole for its exit in this tool is 3-5 mm higher than in other options. After this device, a rough surface remains that needs to be finished with a jointer.
• sander This unusual name is given to a grinding plane, which has a double knife and a chipbreaker located at an angle of 50° to the working sole. This device is perfect for the grinding procedure. At the end of the work, a completely smooth surface remains
• a jointer is necessary for leveling the edge and plane, and it provides finishing of large surfaces thanks to a sharp knife with a chipbreaker and an extended block. This tool should be in every woodworking workshop.
• Tsinubeli. Such planes have a single serrated blade, which, after moving through wood or plywood, leaves behind corrugated surface. This is the ideal surface for gluing. The grooves created by the cutter guarantee better adhesion of the parts on which the glue is applied
• roughing planes are necessary in the process of leveling the ends on plasterboard boards. There is no need to sand after using this device. sheet material. The cutting element is created in the form of a grater

In the process of figure planing, planes are used, which are designed to process grooves, protrusions and edges. Such tools can cope with the most difficult tasks, for this reason they are quite in demand in the woodworking industry. The following types of planes are used for figured planing:

• The zenzubel is designed in such a way that it can be used to select and trim quarters, create rectangular cuts, grooves and folds. In addition, they are not suitable for planing perpendicular elements of workpieces. The zenzubel cutter has the shape of a blade, the edge of which can be straight or oblique. It all depends on the way the edge is attached to the sole. Zenzubels form a groove " dovetail" Even when processed across the grain, a perfectly smooth surface is obtained.
• kantenhobels. This type of plane is an edge selector, easily coping with chamfering, processing ends and edges in order to give them flat surface. In addition, such a plane will help to carry out fine-tuning given dimensions. The main difference between the catenhobel is the trapezoidal shape of the blade. Some models are equipped with two cutting elements located at an angle to the side of the sole
• tongue and groove can be called a common type of planes. It will help you quickly and efficiently create a longitudinal groove. The groove has two blocks that are connected to each other with screws, one of the blocks is a guide, and the second secures the blade. Using an adjustable stop, the edge of the groove can be set at a specific distance from the edge. The stop ridge guarantees penetration to the required depth without the risk of bending the blade
• federgubel is a figured end plane, the task of which is to form a longitudinal protrusion along the edge of the workpiece. This work is provided by special shape blade, in the center of which there is an opening. In the process of working with such a tool, a kind of ridge remains on the surface, which in the future will be joined to a groove to connect two parts
• Kalevka has an unusual replaceable blade, having a figured cutting edge. In addition, there is a multi-stage sole. Most often this device is used in the creation process decorative details, for example, cornices, baguettes and others wooden elements serving as interior decoration
• The folding belt will help create a groove along the edge of the workpiece without preliminary marking. Like Kalevka, there is a multi-stage sole. The tool has a wide block, as a result of which it is possible to create grooves of equal dimensions. If there is a need to process the vertical wall of the quarter, an additional side cutter is placed on the folding sheet
• staples. Such a tool is needed to form round edges of the part. This plane is equipped with a blade whose edge has a semicircular recess. Based on design features, the staple has a concave sole. When processing the edges of rectangular ends, the knife removes chips so that the edge becomes rounded.

Hand plane knife

A hand plane for wood cannot work without a knife. Such knives operate under conditions of significant loads on the blade. During the reciprocating movement of the tool, the knife cuts into the wood to a specific depth. Since wood is not plastic, chipping of a certain layer occurs and chips are formed. The chips do not have a significant length and quickly split into smaller fractions. This is observed during the “creeping” of wood cut from the workpiece onto the inclined edge of the blade. During the next movement of the plane, a crack appears in the next layer, and so on.

The smaller the span and depth of planing, the smoother and cleaner the workpiece surface is, while at the same time the shear load on the blade is reduced.

Due to the fact that the chips break off when bending upward, the highest stresses are created in the plane block. That is why the block is created from the hardest types of timber.

The knife has a working and a supporting part. The configuration of the working part of the knife includes:

• a chamfer formed on the back of the blade. The chamfer guarantees a reduction in the force of cutting the knife into wood due to the elimination of friction of the rear part against the workpiece material
• front corner. It most often coincides with the accepted tilt of the knife in the plane body
• clearance angle
• working angle of sharpening. It is equal to the difference between the values ​​of the chamfer angle and the angle of inclination of the knife in the plane.
• For the durability of the plane, the most important thing is the rake angle: it is this that ensures the smoothness of the planed surface, the conditions for removing chips from the processing area, as well as the load on the blade itself.

The working edge of a knife is an edge that has a small radius of curvature. Before you start sharpening, you need to visually check the integrity of the edge: there should be no metal tears on it. If such defects are present, the knife will have to be shortened.

To minimize the radius of curvature on the edge, sharpening should be carried out in two stages. First, primary sharpening is carried out. To do this, the dull knife from the chamfer side must be brought to the periphery of the grinding wheel and pressed firmly. The number of revolutions of the sharpener should be at the level of 600 - 700 min-1. Otherwise, too much metal will be removed. It's also important not to press too hard because the steel can develop blue-violet hues, which is an unpleasant sign of the metal being tempered. The hardness of the knife will decrease, and there will be a need for heat treatment to restore the strength characteristics of the material.

If you don't have a sharpener, you can do this. Sharpen the knife with a coarse-grained whetstone, which must be secured to the workbench. Sharpening is performed by circular movements of the chamfer along the surface of the block. During this work, it is worth moistening the knife with water or soapy water from time to time to clean the surface being sharpened and cool the tool.

When you see burrs, you can begin the second stage of sharpening using a finer-grained stone that removes those same burrs. The gradation of bars by grain size looks like this:

• high grain size from 30 to 180 microns. Such bars are made from silicon carbide or corundum
• average grain size from 7 to 20 microns. Such bars are created from electrocorundum or chromium dioxide
• fine grain size from 3 to 5 microns. This material is used for final sharpening of knives.

At the end of sharpening, you need to run the knife blade along a piece of hard wood. He will finally remove the fragments of the burr.

Selection of hand planes

The Arsenal Masters RU specialists have prepared this article for you - a review of carpentry planes, summarizing their experience and using open sources (articles in American magazines, the Internet).
* This photo review was created for informational purposes and is not a product. You can print this page yourself and for free.

We will look at the four main size groups of classic planes according to the Stanley classification for working with planes and offer starter sets of planes.

At one time, back in the 19th century, it was developed size range planes and jointers. The foundation of this series was laid by the American Bailey, and it was streamlined and finalized by Stanley.
There are hand planes a wide variety of sizes. Why are there so many of them?

We will try to explain this by considering 4 groups, depending on the area of ​​application, and in increasing order of their sizes:

Let's look at which planes in each group are used for what.

Planes are assigned numbers according to their standard size; the higher the number, the larger the plane. The first three small planes presented in the photo below are cross-cutting planes, the next three planes are from the second group “planes for fine planing”, the third group is a group of universal planes (Jack planes), and the fourth group of large planes are jointers according to our Russian terminology.

Each group best serves a specific purpose. Smoothing planes, for example, are designed to make wood silky smooth, ready for finishing.
Basically, length is the key to understanding each group. By choosing the right length plane, you can get the job done much faster with better results.

IN Western world Miter planes are often associated with do-it-youselfers because they are inexpensive and small enough to fit on your belt or in your tool kit. They are also widely used in woodworking workshops.
A high-quality miter plane can become one of your favorite tools.

There are three types of cross-cut planes:

In Standard Angle miter planes, the blades are positioned at an angle to the surface of approximately 20 degrees with the chamfer facing upward. The knife is usually sharpened at an angle of 25 degrees and, accordingly, the effective cutting angle will be 45 degrees. It is identical to large planes.

In a Low-Angle miter plane, the knife is set at an angle of approximately 12 degrees, which leads to a much lower cutting angle, the picture shows the recommended installation and sharpening angles for the knife, including with a micro-bevel:

Pocket-size planes use a standard blade angle, but at the same time, these planes are ultra-small in size and light in weight.

A cross-cut plane is great for planing any edges of wood fibers, including trimming the edges of drawer and door parts.
Planing the end grain of wood requires more effort than planing the front surface and puts more stress on the plane knife blade.
The blade of a miter plane is more stable because it is mounted with the bevel up instead of down like most large planes.
In this position, the tip of the blade has additional support from the side of the plane body.
For planing the ends, it is better to use a Low-Angle miter plane because it requires less effort.

In addition to planing the ends of the fibers, the cross-cut plane still has more options applications.
The miter saw is convenient for forming rounding or chamfering on the edges of parts, when held with one hand.
And of course, the pocket plane easily fits into any pocket - be it a carpenter's apron, shirt or belt bag.

The Smoothing plane is a serious hand tools And best friend for the one who works for them.
This plane turns planing into a fine shave and can make a board feel as smooth as silk.

But calling only this group a double plane is still not entirely correct, since the double knife is also used in other groups of planes.

There are three types of smoothing planes:

No. 4 is the type commonly used, although the next one, slightly larger and wider - No. 4-1/2 - is more popular among foreign carpenters. Planer #4 is 2 inches (50.8 mm) wide.

#4-1/2 - Heavier and the added mass of the plane makes it easier to maintain momentum when planing hardwood. Planer #4-1/2 - 2-3/8 inches (60.3 mm).

No. 3 is lighter and smaller in width than No. 4. This is important for women carpenters and carpentry apprentices. The width of the #3 plane is 1-3/4 inches (44.5 mm).

Smoothing planes are used for fine planing of the board surface - finishing.
Their relatively short length makes them ideal for planing wide boards or furniture panels, because they can correct small irregularities on the surface, creating long, continuous chips. Which is the gold standard in carpentry. The longer the leveling plane is, the more continuous the chips will be and the more even the surface will be. With a smaller size, smoothing should be more frequent.
Precise adjustment of such a plane will pay off with a perfectly smooth surface on almost any wood.

It is easier to keep the sole of the tool flat with a longer tool. In inexperienced hands, planing with a shorter plane usually leads to blockages along the edges of the board.
It is possible to plan accurately with a plane with a double knife only after acquiring sufficient skill.

In the Russian classification we are accustomed to, these are semi-jointers.
“He is a jack of all trades, but a master of none,” says the saying. This expression perfectly describes the essence of this plane and helps explain the origin of this name.
The Jack plane is longer than the fine planer and is therefore more effective on larger surfaces.
This plane is great for rough planing, but it can also produce long thin shavings almost like a #4.
It is powerful, effective, versatile and useful tool even in a workshop filled with machines and power tools.

There are three types of Jack planes:

The classic Jack plane (half-jointer) is No. 5. It's 2 inches wide, the same as #4, but longer.

No. 5-1/2 - wider, longer and heavier than No. 5. Its extra weight makes it easier to plan difficult wood.

Number 5-1/4 is shorter, narrower and lighter than number 5. It is designed primarily for teaching carpentry.

Developing idea No. 5, the Canadian company Veritas has expanded the capabilities of this plane by introducing planes from the series with an inverted knife and a small planing angle.

The Jack plane can both level and smooth the surface - it has more capabilities than using more specialized smoothing or leveling planes. It is also useful for aligning joints, such as a chair leg with a drawer.
If you use a planer blade with a pronounced curve, then this tool is ideal for quickly removing large amounts of wood. According to our classification, this turns out to be . It is used for rough primary processing of wood.

A jointer (from the German Fugbank) is intended for finishing wood. It is used when there is a need to level a large surface, as well as for jointing the edges of long parts. Structurally, it is a long plane with a double knife. When planing an initially uneven surface with a jointer, chips are obtained in the form of small pieces, and with repeated passes - continuous, which indicates that the surface being processed has become smooth.

Leveling planes are long, wide, and heavy. They are used for two specific purposes: straightening ends and leveling large surfaces. Precision is needed in both cases, and this requires a plane (jointer) with a long and flat sole. The most common leveling plane is the No. 7, best known as a jointer.
A jointer is best suited for straightening long edges to join them together.

There are three types of jointers:

#6 works best for leveling most large surfaces. It is used before the smoothing plane for a clean planing to finish the job.

Plane No. 7 - has the same width as No. 6, but is approximately 4 inches longer.

Planer No. 8 is a hulk: longer, wider and heavier than No. 7.

Both a No. 6 or No. 7 plane can be used for joints and planes, although having both is ideal. If you only have one, then it is better to have two knives. For connections, a blade is required that is perfectly sharpened and has a straight, even edge; for leveling large surfaces, a jointer with a blade that has a point with a slight curvilinearity is more effective.
No. 8 is large and bulky, but it is an excellent jointer for joining long joints, wide edges, for example doors.

As we have looked at, the wide range of standard sizes of planes covers almost all work from rough planing and leveling of planes to fine finishing planing. Based on the centuries-old experience of the Masters, the following basic kits have been developed, which cover most of the tasks of planing planes for a novice carpenter. Highly specialized planes increase the quality and speed of work, therefore Experienced Masters We try to have as complete a line as possible.
Let's take a look at the starter kits:

The recommended composition of the kit may change depending on availability, changes in the product range of manufacturers, as well as your wishes.
Arsenal Masters specialists have sufficient competence and will be happy to answer all your questions. Tools are available in warehouses in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod, we will deliver to any region, there are promotions for free delivery. Payment online on the website bank cards and non-cash on account (with the allocation of VAT).